Check my Check

“Clear the field!”

“Wash the dishes!”

“Paint the wall!”

These were the ranges of things I heard and did on a daily basis. It was my new life. Since the day I stepped into this prison, my life had never remained the same. I was paying for a crime I never committed in the first place. Each day I cried myself to sleep, and each day, my pain grew into immense hate. All I wished for was a chance to pay Marcus back for all that he did to me.

All I had shown Marcus in our lives together as a couple was love and nothing more. I went out of my way to please him, and what I got in return was betrayal for a crime I never committed.

It had been three months since I was locked up and paying the debt that I never collected. My life was ruined, and all my hopes and aspirations went down the drain. Never again would I love, I thought. But then, who would even give me the chance to love again, or would I love in my old age? I had a whopping forty years to spend in prison.

The relentless sun beat down on the prison yard as I toiled alongside my fellow inmates. The monotonous routine of farm work became my new reality, each day blending into the next with backbreaking labor and stifling confinement. On this day as well I was working in the farm when my water broke.

“Ahh!” I screamed, my legs trembling.

The other inmates rushed to me and helped me towards the indoor area of the cell. Tears welled in my eyes as I was taken to the clinic. I was in labor. I was giving birth to the child of that bastard, the cause of my ruination. The fact that he cared less about his own unborn child made it all the more unbearable.

As I lay there, the pain coursing through my body, I couldn’t help but think of all the love I had given, only to be repaid with betrayal and imprisonment. My mind raced with memories of happier times, tinged with the bitter reality of my present.

The scent of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the sweat and tears on my face. The harsh fluorescent lights above seemed to mock my suffering, casting stark shadows that mirrored the darkness in my heart. Every contraction was a reminder of the life I was forced to bring into this world, a life tied to the man who had destroyed mine.

“Please relax and push harder,” the voice of one of the nurses pierced my ears as pain etched itself into every part of my body.

“Holy fuck!” I clenched my fists tightly, my legs pulling and twisting, my waist wracked with immense pangs. I felt pain like never before.

“Please push harder,” the nurse said again, this time coming closer and holding my hand. The one person I had imagined would hold my hand while I gave birth was Marcus, but I guess life had other plans.

The process of giving birth seemed to stretch on forever, but it wasn’t working. Each attempt brought more and more pain. There were complications due to the baby’s position.

“The only way out now is a C-section. You will be fine. Trust me,” the nurse said to me.

At that point, I could barely hear her. The pain was too much to bear. I just wanted it to be over. They injected something, and all I could feel was my eyes slowly closing. The rest was history.

The first thing I asked as soon as my eyes opened slowly was, “Where is my baby?” My faint voice drifted out.

The room was empty, and the cradle beside me was empty as well. I was weak, but I still managed to stand up, staggering as I moved. I wanted to hold my baby.

“Where is my baby? Is anyone there?” I called out, quite exhausted.

After a couple of seconds, the door flew open. “You are awake,” the nurse who helped me deliver said as she entered with a smile.

“Where is my baby? I can’t find... wait, is it a he or a she?” I asked, my voice trembling with anxiety.

The nurse remained silent, standing a few feet away from me. One of the wardens joined her in the room.

“Where is my baby?!” I asked again, my desperation mounting.

They exchanged glances, a silent communication that sent chills down my spine. Had I lost my baby? Was it a stillborn? Questions crowded my mind, each one breaking me a little more.

“It was taken away,” the nurse finally said, her voice cold and detached.

My eyes widened in shock. “What... what do you mean? What are you talking about?” I stuttered, my words punctuated by a coughing fit.

“Your baby is with your husband. He took the child immediately after birth,” the nurse explained.

I couldn’t believe my ears. Was I hallucinating? Was I losing my mind? “You are joking, right?” I asked, hoping for any sign that this was a cruel prank.

“No. Your husband got a court order to take the baby from you because he believes you are mentally unstable and he doesn’t want you to hurt his child,” the nurse said, her tone matter-of-fact.

My heart felt like it had turned to ice, the numbness spreading through my body. Marcus had treated me like an enemy.

This was the deepest betrayal, and the helplessness of it all overwhelmed me. I had carried our baby for nine months, but now I couldn't even see or touch him or her. The pain was so immense that I couldn't even cry out; tears slid silently down my face, each drop a testament to my shattered spirit.

Eleven years later in prison, I received the best gift ever: a second chance at life. I was granted clemency based on my good behavior. It was unexpected, but I guess God had heard my cries, giving me this one chance to repay Marcus for all he had done to me. Revenge burned within me, and I was ready to lay down my life to make Marcus pay for every one of his crimes.

The day I left the prison, tears rolled down my cheeks, I was looking more old and haggard with wrinkled skin. But those tears marked my rebirth. The world outside felt new and unfamiliar, a society I hadn’t been part of for over a decade. The first place I visited was the church where Marcus and I had gotten married.

I reached the church and sat on one of the pews, staring at the altar. “I made my marital vows here,” I whispered to myself. “It was an oath to stay loyal, but now, Lord, I’m taking another vow. I will not rest until Marcus pays for his crimes. The hurt he made me endure... He killed my father and took my child away from me. I seek his blood, so help me God,” I prayed, my eyes fixed on the cross.

What I needed next were money and connections. Taking down Marcus would require a lot. As I sat there, contemplating my next steps, I heard a voice.

“Hi,” came the unexpected greeting.

I turned to see a very handsome man, dressed in a dazzling white suit. His bright green eyes contrasted sharply with his dark beard that covered his chin. He looked incredibly classy and was obviously wealthy.

“Hi,” I said, still startled.

I had noticed him chatting with the priest earlier on.

“Are you married? If not, do you need money?” His baritone voice resonated in my ears, but his question stunned me even more.

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not married, and how can I help you?” I asked, meeting his intense green gaze.

“Marry me now, and I will give you a blank check to fill in any amount you want,” he said, and my eyes went wide.